AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe extended their coronavirus orders Friday afternoon.
The orders, which extend existing requirements for face coverings, social distancing and limiting gatherings, now extend through December 15.
"We are not out of the woods," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a statement. "COVID-19 infectivity is still too high – especially in the Hispanic community. We need to work together to get infectivity down across our entire city. If we want to stay safe and reopen, we must keep social distancing, washing our hands and wearing our masks."
Read the City of Austin order hereRead the Travis County order here
Also on Friday, interim health authority Dr. Mark Escott released updated emergency rules, including new guidance for re-opening schools. The new guidelines were created in collaboration with school district and community leaders and comply with Texas Education Agency guidance.
"Austin Public Health has been working closely with local school districts to develop detailed guidance so they can feel confident about school restarting," said Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden. "We used existing resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Education Association to form the new rules and guidance document."
Read the new Emergency Health Rules here
The new rules require schools to follow a phased-in approach to re-opening, unless their funding from TEA would be jeopardized.
